A local superhero, the Waterberg Security Initiative’s (WSI) K9 dog Zorro, boasts a brand new bulletproof vest, thanks to a donation by the Save the Waterberg Rhino Foundation.
Much like his legendary namesake, the canine Zorro appears out of nowhere to curb the malicious intentions of criminals.
According to Annalie Smith of WSI, Zorro is a Belgium Malinois that has been raised and trained by his experienced handler Jean-Pierre Viljoen. As a dual purpose K9, he is able to track and search for suspects by means of scent and can also physically apprehend criminals if required. Zorro is deployed within the Waterberg area where the WSI operates as a tool to assist the community with crime prevention and investigation. He often assists his handler with the sweeping of rural farm lands for signs of potential poachers.
Zorro has been trained to be able to search large areas of bush for human scent and once found, he is able to track the scent to the person.
Continuous rigorous training keeps the team razor sharp and enables them to add value to the unit as a whole. “Zorro and his handler often train in conjunction with the best trainers of working dogs in the country. They often attend seminars hosted by international experts on the subject,” Smith said.
The K9 unit works closely with local law enforcement and has proven their worth by often gathering information which leads to the successful arrests of poachers and criminals.
“WSI is a community project run by the community for the community,” said Smith. It is not a profit organisation and does not benefit from receiving funds. “The WSI’s only interest is in protecting the community and to create a safe environment for fauna and flora, landowners, employees, tourists, businesses and residents of the area,” she said.
